EV charging rebate Mass - National Grid Charge-Smart-MA

National Grid in Mass has started an EV Rebate charging program.

Note, from National Grid: (the app is not compatible with Toyota vehicles.)
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We’re currently compatible with the following vehicles
Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen (e-Golf only), Volvo
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From:
https://electrek.co/2022/06/01/ev-electric-vehicle-charging-rebate-massachusetts-2022/
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EV charging rebates improve in Massachusetts

The existing program is expanding to new territories throughout Massachusetts. National Grid customers who connect their car or home charger can now earn 3–5 cents off every kWh of charging during off-peak hours, a rate that’s based on an analysis of the initial program that helped the utility to understand how and when their customers charge.

According to a National Grid spokesperson, this newest iteration’s tariffs and rebates better fit customers’ needs, and the company will continue to review charging data to build programs that encourage customers to charge smart and earn rebates.

National Grid electricity customers in Massachusetts can connect their vehicle or home charger to National Grid’s mobile app, called Charge Smart MA, which is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store.

The app allows customers to log in using their National Grid billing account so that any rebates earned are credited straight back to their electric bill. The app also enables EV drivers to track their EV charging costs.

The number of EV drivers in Massachusetts continues to grow, with more than 51,000 registered EVs and a goal of more than 300,000 EVs on state roads by 2025.
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Fwiw:

Excerpt: (the app is not compatible with Toyota vehicles.)
We’re currently compatible with the following vehicles
Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen (e-Golf only), Volvo



From a National Grid email:
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Greetings from National Grid!

We have launched a mobile app for the MA EV Off-Peak Charging Program, Charge Smart MA, for iOS and Android that wirelessly connects to your EV or internet-connected home charger.

The off-peak rebate is paid to participants as a fixed per-kWh rate for charging their EV during the hours of 9:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding the National holidays of: New Year’s Day, Washington’s Birthday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Columbus Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

This e-mail contains everything you need to know to get you fully set up on the National Grid Charge Smart MA app. We've also included the full text of the participation agreement you agreed to when enrolling in the program.

Getting set up and connected
First, you’ll need to connect your vehicle or charger in the Charge Smart MA app.
We’re currently compatible with the following vehicles, so have your login details handy:
Audi, BMW, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Hyundai, Jaguar, Jeep, Land Rover, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen (e-Golf only), Volvo


Confirm your Home Location
Next, confirm your home location. Enter your home address and confirm its location on the map. Charge Smart MA will only optimize your charging within 500 ft. of this location. You will be able to charge at public and rapid chargers as normal.

Charge off-peak and watch your rebates accumulate!
Track all of your charging, estimated energy bill costs, and off-peak rebates in the app. Participants are eligible to receive a reward of $0.05/kWh for EV charging during off-peak hours from June 1 to September 30 (“summer months”) and $0.03/kWh for EV charging during off-peak hours from October 1 through May 31 (“non-summer months”).
The $50 enrollment incentive along with any off-peak charging rebates you earn will be sent to you as an on-bill credit the following month.
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The National Grid electrical rate discount is for PHEV (plug-in/partial), and BEV (ev-only) vehicles.
The app has many BMW's and Volvo's PHEVs listed. After I saw all of those PHEVs listed, I didn't bother looking at other brands.
Volvo has been selling a lot of ev's (for Volvo). Iirc, for this past month, ~30% of the Volvo vehicles sold were ev's.


The official response I received was:
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Thanks for contacting us and hope you are well!

Unfortunately, your vehicle is not currently compatible with the Charge Smart MA app.
We are always looking to expand our support library of vehicles and to work with as many brands and partners as we can!

If you would like to be notified when new vehicles and chargers get added to the platform then you can add your details to the form at the bottom of the NG page here: Charge Smart MA | National Grid

Best wishes,
Jess
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Btw, National Grid doesn't make, nor maintain the app.
National Grid pays for customization for an existing app made by an independent app company. Similar to emission's testing.
Imho, it's an awesome idea to have an app, to detect and charge for off-peak rates. Think of the cost otherwise.

What's surprising, is that the POS app doesn't even support Toyota's, Honda's,etc when used with a new ChargePoint charger (which has wifi).
From some replies I read on the Google app store, as long as the person logs into the manufacture's app before charging, the "National Grid" app doesn't seem to care about what charger is used.
I can;t say for sure. On the app, I can't get past the "enter info screen", since I don't have a compatible vehicle and corresponding manufacture's app login.

The above email wasn't very encouraging.
My guess is that the app company met the requirements made by National Grid. Unless National Grid, or some other electric company they work with, pays for the work/time to add other manufactures, the app company doesn't have any incentive to add other manufactures.
It'll take both Toyota and Honda a few years to get close to the EV vehicles that have been produced, by other companies.
Imho, vehicle manufactures are going to be supply constrained for at least another year.

Ford, and maybe other manufactures, likely paid, or provided tons of support, to have their company added to the app.
Imho, Ford has hit a few grand slams on the Mach-E and F150-Lightning EV. They likely put boat loads of money into the development of those vehicles. Imho, the Mach-E has slightly better reliability than a V8 Mustang. Which is not saying much.
However, Mustang V8's are still popular, although Ford hasn't produced a long-lasting reliable Mustang V8 since the 60's.


When the app/Nation-Grid supports Toyota vehicles, I'll let people know.
My guess is around the time that my "free trail" of Toyota Connect ends (in 2025).